Case packer

ABSTRACT

A case packer for grouping and packing product-containing flexible bags in the form of enclosed pillows or packets into cartons used for shipping purposes. The machine includes a vertically pivotal conveyor for successively feeding and stacking the bags between paired radial jaws of a vertically oriented wheel. After receiving a set number of bags, the jaws are activated to close, gripping and compressing the grouped bags. The wheel is rotatably indexed to bring each set of loaded jaws to a carton loading station. A carton is lifted to partially enclose the bags as the jaws are relaxed, allowing the bags to fall into the box, which is then removed for further processing or shipment.

United States Patent l [1 1 Graham CASE PACKER [76] inventor: Robert H.Graham, Spokane, Wash.

[73] Assignee: R. A. Pearson Company, Spokane,

Wash.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 213,996

[ 1 Oct. 23, 1973 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney-Greek Wellset al.

[57] ABSTRACT A case packer for grouping and packing productcontainingflexible bags in the form of enclosed pillows or packets into cartonsused for shipping purposes. The machine includes a vertically pivotalconveyor for successively feeding and stacking the bags between pairedradial jaws of a vertically oriented wheel. After receiving a set numberof bags, the jaws are activated to close, gripping and compressing thegrouped bags. The wheel is rotatably indexed to bring each set of loadedjaws to a carton loading station. A carton is lifted to partiallyenclose the bags as the jaws are relaxed, allowing the bags to fall intothe box, which is then removed for further processing or shipment'.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 23, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Oct. 23, 1973 7 Shoots-Shoot 2 N GE Patented Oct. 23, 19733,766,706

7 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 3

Patented Get. 23, 1973 3,766,706

7 Sheets-Sheet v1 Patented Oct. 23, 1973 3,766,706

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.5

FIG.6

Patented 0Ct.23,1973 3,766,706

7 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 23, 1973 7 Sheets-Shoot FIG. IO

-1 CASE PACKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The apparatus is designed tomechanically pack articles within a case in a stacked relationship.While applicable to the packing of many different articleconfigurations, it is designed specifically for the automatic packing offlexible packages having a pillow or packet configuration, such packagesrequiring compression of a stack for effective packing to minimize latermovement of such packages in the receiving case. The machine wasspecifically designed to handle flexible packages of frozen bulk frenchfried potatoes, which have been primarily placed in receiving cases byhand methods.

One problem in effective packing of such product packages is therequirement for relatively high capacity in handling the incoming flowof such packages. It would seriously hamper such an operation where theequipment temporarily stopped during further processing of each stack ofpackages. Therefore, the present apparatus provides almost continuousreceiving capability for incoming packages by compressing the stackedpackages and placing them in receiving cases at locations remote fromthe loading station where the incoming packages are received. I

Exemplary prior patents relating to the present apparatus are asfollows: a j

The disclosed apparatus basically comprises paired jaws mounted on amovable framework for receiving and handling the incoming articles orpackages. Power means are connected between the framework and the pairedjaws to cause the jaws to spread or close for compression purposes. Ajaw indexing mechanism controls the position of the framework to shiftthe paired jaws between a jaw loadingstation and a case loading station.An incoming conveyor is directed to the jaw loading station to place astack of articles between the paired jaws. Controldevices are connectedto the jaws to open the jaws for the reception of a stack of articlesand to close'the jaws to compress the articles in a stack prior todischarge .ofthe articles into a receiving case at the case loadingstation. Y

A first object of this invention-is to provide a high capacity apparatusfor receiving, compressing and discharging a stack of articles, suchasflexible containers, into a receiving open case. l

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of theapparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 inFIG. 2, illustrating operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4in' FIG. 2, illustrating discharge of stacked containers into areceiving case;

FIG. '6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6.-6in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation showing only the movable frameworkassembly and taken from the side opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 inFIG. 7, showing the wheel indexing lock assembly;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 inFIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 10-10in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT The present apparatus ingeneral utilizes a movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheelhaving a plurality of sets of paired jaws movably mounted on the. wheelfor selectively receiving, compressing and discharging stacks ofarticles such as sealed flexible bags or pouch containers. As can beseen in FIG. 3, the individual containers are fed into the machine fromthe left in a longitudinal row along a conveyor that is longitudinallyaligned with the wheel and which intersects the wheel at a case loadingstation to one side of the wheel axis. The incoming conveyor iselevationally stepped upon the discharge of each package to arrange thepackages in a vertical stack on the receiving set of paired jaws. Whenthe desired stack has been fed between apair of jaws, the jaws areclosed toward one another on the wheel to compress the stack toa't'otal, height which can be received ina shipping case. The

loaded jaws are incrementally rotated over the top of the wheel andangularly indexed in controlled increments'. As each set ofpaired jawsreaches a case loadingstation beneath the wheel axis; an upwardly opencase is indexed and brought into registry with-the stationary' jaws. Theloaded'case is raised or movedradi- Another object of this invention-isto provide a multi- DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sideelevation view of the apparatus; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of theapparatus;

ally inwardrelative to the wheel so as to cause partial insertion of apair of jaws within the case. These jaws I are then relaxed to permitthe packages to slide into the receiving caseby gravity. The case isthen lowered or moved radially outward from the wheel'axis'anddischarged onto a receiving table or conveyor. The-several steps ofstacking the containers, compressing each stack, and discharging thestacked containers into a case are accomplished simultaneously in acontinuing sequence of operation that occurs about the movable frameworkor wheel. Thus, the apparatus has the capability of receiving acontinuous flow of incoming packages without interrupting such receiptfor the remaining necessary operations.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and especially to FIGS. 1and. 3, the case packing machine is generally indicated by referencenumeral 10. It includes a peripheral framework 11 supporting avertically pivotal input conveyor 13 at an input end 12. Bags ofaccumulated material, such as frozen french fries or other bulkmaterial, are passed from conveyor 13 to a rotatable wheel which carriessuccessive accumulated stacks of bags between peripheral jaws 35 to acase loading station 16.

As seen in FIG. 4, conveyor 13 includes elongated opposed side members21 pivotally supporting transversely spaced endless belts 18, 19 havingco-planar upper delivery runs. Conveyor 13 is vertically pivotal about ahorizontal transverse axis adjacent input end 12 co-axial with a drivingdrum 23 of the first endless belt 18. A motor assembly 20 powers drum 23to move belt 18 about a course defined by drum 23 and a second drum 24.

Endless belt 19 is slightly spaced from belt 18 and powered about alongitudinal course defined by rotatable drums 26, 27. Drum 26communicates with adjacent drum 24 through a stepped-up driving linkage28, which powers belt 19 at a greater velocity than that of belt 18. Bydifferentiating the velocities of belts 18, 19 a minimum distance may bemaintained between bags 31 on belt 19 regardless of the spacing on belt18. f

A staged cylinder 20 (FIG. 4) is pivotally mounted under belt 19 toindex conveyor 13 upwardly from an initial position to five selectiveelevated positions. Each bag 31, as it leaves belt 19 breaks the beam ofphotoelectric cell assembly 33 which activates staged cylinder to extendone stage upwardly, thereby stacking the bags 31 in a vertical patternwithin radially extending jaws 35 of wheel 15 described below. Bags 31are stacked in groups of six within jaws 35 at a jaw loading station 36,by utilizing an impulse counter operatively connected to the circuit ofphotoelectric cell assembly 33. After the sixth bag passes the assembly33, the impulse counter activates cylinder 30 to lower conveyor 13 tothe initial position from which the bag-stacking procedure is repeatedto load the next successive set of jaws 35. Upon receiving the pre-setnumber of bags, wheel 15 is powered to partially rotate, bringing thenext successive set of empty jaws 35 to loading station 36.

Jaw loading station 36 includes spaced upright side walls 37 fixed toframe 11 adjacent the output end 17 of conveyor 13. Walls 37 serve tokeep bags 31 vertically aligned so as they are transferred by conveyor13 to jaws 35. The remaining bag suppporting structures of loadingstation 36 are the movable'jaws 35 of wheel 15.

Wheel 15, as shown in the drawings, is hexagonal, having six peripheralsets of jaws 35. The paired jaws 35 extend outward from the wheel axisin substantially radial orientation. It is to be'noted however, thatwheel 15 could utilize more jaw assemblies than shown, or as few as one,depending on the production rate required.

Frame 11 rotatably supports wheel 15- about a horizontal transverse axiswithin bearings 38. A movable wheel framework 41 comprising radiallyextendng spokes 42 equally separated by intermediate spacing bars 43provides support for each jaw assembly 35. Members 42 are T-shaped, eachhaving an enlongated radial element 44 and a cross member 45.

Each end of cross members 45 provides pivotal support for a clamp armassembly 46 of jaws'35. Arms 46 are L-shaped' in configuration, eachhaving an outwardly extending rectangular clamp plate 47 and anintegral, inwardly angled slide bar 48. The slide bars 48 of each jawassembly 35 overlap one another along a common longitudinal slot 50, ineach. A pin 51, fixed to one end 53 of the ram of a hydraulic cylinderassembly 52, slidably engages slots 50 for each jaw assembly 35. Thecylinder assembly 52 is rigidly fixed to bar 43. Therefore, whencylinder assembly 52 is activated to extend the ram, the slide bars 48are pivoted outwardly and the attached clamp plates 47 are spread apart.When cylinder assembly 52 is retracted, slide bars 48 pivot inwardly,moving clamp plates 47 together. A flexible backing belt 54 (FIGS. 4, 5)is fixed between the inward side edges of plates 47 to further assist invertically aligning bags 31 during stacking.

A motor 39 is utilized to rotate and angularly index wheel 15incrementally in the direction indicated by an arrow 40 in FIG. 3. Eachincrement of rotation involves a 60 movement of wheel 15. Thus, after aseries of 4 increments involving a movement of 240, jaws 35 shown in theposition 35a will have moved to the position shown at 35b.

A stop assembly 55, shown in detail in FIG. 8 is utilized to assist insuch indexing by physically limiting the rotation of wheel 15 to the 60increments described above. Stop 55 includes an elongated arm 56pivotally attached to an upright member of frame 11, through a resilientshock absorbing connector 57. As-seen in FIG. 7, arm 56 is inclinedslightly away from the upright frame member to achieve a perpendicularrelationship with the engaged spoke 42 of wheel 15. A pad 58 is fixed toeach spoke 42 at a position facilitating engagement by the side edge ofa stop plate 60 which is rigidly fixed to the outer end of arm 56. 8

Stop assembly 55 is powered to pivot inward and outwardly of a doubleacting hydraulic cylinder assembly 61 operatively fixed between arm 56and an offset toggle linkage 62. Cylinder assemby 61 is pivotallyconnected at one end 63 to arm 56 at a position adjacent stop plate 60and at its opposite end 64 to a projecting bracket of an elongatedlinkage member 65. Toggle linkage 62 is designed to allow cylinder 61 tofreely pivot arm 56 inward or outwardly.

When extended, it mechanically absorbs longitudinal stress withouttransfer of resulting stress to cylinder 61. This action eliminatescylinder wear due to abrupt tensioning of arm 56 as stop plate 60engages a stop pad 58 to selectively lock the wheel 15. I

Hydraulic'cylinder assembly 6l,is retracted by the previously describedimpulse counter. at the fifthcount. It is extended automaticallyfollowing incremental rotation of wheel 15.

Each group of bags 31 are transferred into respective cases 67 at caseloading station 16 through operation of a conveyor-fed case liftingassembly'66. Cases 67 are directed onto lifting assembly 66 by ahorizontal feed conveyor 68. Longitudinal rails 70, located at eitherside of conveyor 68 serve to guide the empty cases 67 onto the inclinedsupporting surface 71 (FIGS. 5, 6) of case lifter 66. Surface 71 iscomprised of a plurality of rollers 72 which allow each empty case 67 tomove down the incline to an upwardly projecting stop 73.

Each case 67 breaks the beam of a photoelectric cell assembly 59 uponreaching stop 73. This serves to indicate properpositioning of -areceiving case. During case placement, the wheel 15 is loaded andincrementally rotated to locate a group of bags 31 directly above case67. Surface 71 is then raised by a cylinder assembly 74 to the positionindicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5. Jaws 35 enter and are partiallyenclosed by case 67. Jaws 35 are relaxed within case 67 allowing bags 31to fall into case 67. This is accomplished by releasing pressure at bothsides of the respective cylinder assembly 52. Cylinder 74 is thenretracted to lower the filled case to its original elevation. I

Stop 73 includes a roller 72a, rotatably journalled at the uppermost endof a bellcrank 75 which is pivotally supported by surface 71. A doubleacting hydraulic cylinder assembly-76 is mounted between surface 71 andbellcrank 75 for pivoting bellcrank 75 to stop or release cases onsurface 71. Stopping and releasing positions of stop 73 are shown indotted and solid lines respectively in FIG. 5. Roller 72ais utilized atits lowe'red'position as an extension of inclined surface 71.

Full cases, upon being released by Step 73, gravita tionally slide fromcase lifter 66 onto the adjacent rotatable surface 79 of a receivingtable 78. A limit switch 80 is engaged by the released case to activatecylinder 74 to raise stop 73 for receiving the next successive emptycase '67. Full cases are removed from table 78 for further processing'and shipment.

Throughout the rotation of wheel 15, each set of jaws 35 are controlledto open, close and relax individually by the operation of valves 80, 81shown generally'in FIG. 7 and in detail by FIGS. 9 and 10. Radial spokes42 each support a valve 80 for fully opening and partially closing anoperatively attached set of jaws 35. Valves 80 are operated to fullyopen jaws 35 as they are engaged along a semicircular cam 82 (FIGS. 7,9)."Cam 82 is positioned on frame 11 to operate valves 80, to hold jaws35 open from a position 35c (FIG. 7) to the jaw loading position 35awhere the plunger 84 of a valve 80 comes to rest on the retractableplate of a solenoid 83. Upon counting the last of a series-of six bagsfrom conveyor 13, the impulse counter activates solenoid 83 (FIG. 9) toretract prior to rotation of wheel 15. This causes valve plunger 84 toextend, thereby activating the loaded set of jaw's35 to partially close,slightly compressing bags 31 contained therein. Bags 31' are held by theresulting compressive pressure exerted by partially closed jaws 35 aswheel is indexed from position 35a to 35b. At position 35b,"bags 31 arereleased into acase 67 by the operation of valve 81 (FIGSI7,10). i'

A valve 81 is ifixed to'eachspacin'g bar'43 adjacent an'operativelyconnected cylinder 52. Valves 81 are individually activated,'-atposition 35b, to relieve pressure in cylinder 52 opening jaws 35slightly toallow bags '31 to fall'into a lifted case 67. A solenoid 85is fixed to frame 11 adjacent jaw position 35b for activating each valve81 as it is indexed on, wheel 15 to that position. Solenoid 85 isactivated bya limit switch (not shown) located to complete a circuit asa case 67 is lifted to. partially enclose the jaws 35 in position 35b.

' It is to be noted that the transfer of bags 31 from conveyor 13 tojaws --35 and the transfer of bags 31 from jaws 35 vinto a case v67 areaccomplished simultaneously. The apparatustherefore is capableofreceiving cases without interruption. It is designed for high volumeusage in'industrial applications where the flow of incoming bags iscontinuous.

Modifications might be made with respect to the disclosed details ofthis structure within the general outline of the apparatus, andtherefore only the-following claims are intended to limit the scope ofthis invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a case packer forarticles requiring stacking, stack compression and insertion ofindividual stacks into a receiving case:

a movable framework rotationally mounted about'a fixed horizontal axison a supporting frame; paired jaws mounted to said movable framework inopposed positions .extending outward from said axis in spacedsubstantially radial orientation with respect to said axis, the jawsbeing selectively movable with respect to the framework between a spreadposition and a closed position; first power -means on said frameworkoperatively connected to said jaws for causing said jaws to assume theirspread position or alternately causing said jaws to assume their closedposition; jaw-indexingmeans operatively connected to said movableframework for selectively locating said framework angularly about saidaxis for shifting said jaws between a jaw loading station and a'caseloading station displaced from one another, the paired jaws beingdownwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when" locatedat said case loading station; 1 incoming conveyor means directed towardthe jaw loading station for selectively placing a plurality of articleswithin'paired jaws locatedat said jaw loading station, the articlesbeing so placed in a stack with adjacent articles in side-by-sideabutment with one another; V first control means operatively connectedto said first power means for actuating said first power means so as tocausethe jaws to assume their spread position during placement ofarticles therein by said incoming conveyor means; second control meansoperatively connected to said first power means for-actuating said firstpower means so as to cause the jaws to assume Etheir closed positionfollowing placement of a stack of I articlestherein; r case conveyormeans for directing open cases indi- I vidually to the case loadingstation; 1 a

and means-"for causing a stack of articles held be;-

tween the jaws to be discharged therefrom into a I case at said caseloading station following location of said'jaws-at the loadingstation-in response to op- 1' eration'of 'said'jaw indexing means i'- I-.2.'- The apparatus asset'out in claiml wherein axis is horizontal;

the lowermost one of said paired jaws being substantially horizontalwhenlocatedat said jaw loading station. 3. The apparatus as setout inclaim 1 wherein saidfrarnework mounts a plurality of said locatedequiangularly' about said axis; I said jaw indexing means being operableto successively locate adjacent pairs of saidv jaws at said jaw loadingstation and subsequently successively locate such pairs'of said jaws atsaid case'loading station-by causing the framework to' be incrementallythe . rotated, about said axis. n

4. The apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein the axis is horizontal;

the lowermost one of said paired jaws being 'substanlocated at said jawloading paired jaws.

7 6. An apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein each jaw of said pairedjaws is pivotally connected at its inner end to said framework aboutindividual axes parallel to and spaced radially outward from said axis;

said first power means comprising individual powered mechanical devicesmounted to the framework movably controlling the respective jaws of eachof said paired jaws to orient each jaw about its respective axisrelative to said framework. 7. In a case packer for placing stacks ofarticles within open cases:

a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the formof a multisided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework abouta central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; plurality of sets ofpaired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at theindividual, side of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outwardfrom said axis along substantially radial projections, the respectivejaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse facesspaced from one another; individually operable means on said movableframework for varying the spacing between the jaws of each of saidpaired jaws between a first condition wherein a stack of articles can bereceived between them and a second condition wherein a stack of articlestherebetween are compressed along the stack height to a reduced heightcapable of being inserted into a case; index means on said supportframework operatively connected to said movable framework for impartingincremental rotational motion to said movable framework about said axisto thereby shift said paired jaws between a jaw loading station and acase loading station angularly displaced from one another about saidaxis, the inner transverse faces of the paired jaws being downwardlyinclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said caseloading station; 7 an infeed'conveyor on said support framework having adelivery run directed to said jaw loading station on said movableframework;

case positioning means on said support framework for individuallylocating upwardly open cases beneath said movable framework downwardlyadjacent to said case loading station;

and means for causing a stack of articles held be tween the paired jawsat said case loading station to be discharged from between the pairedjaws.

8. In acase packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; I

a stationary support framework;

an upright movable framework in the form of a multisided wheel rotatablymounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axistransverse to the wheel;

a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to themovable framework at the individual. sides of the wheel, the paired jawsbeing extended outward from said axis along substantially radialprojections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws havingopposed inner transverse faces spaced from one another;

article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with said movableframework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting the rotationalpath of movement of said paired jaws about said axis;

index means on said support framework operably connected to said movableframework for selectively locking the movable framework stationaryrelative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at saidjaw loading station;

case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectivelybringing an open case into registry with a second set of said pairedjaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means;

and movable. support means on said support framework connected to saidarticle feed conveyor means for shifting the position of said articlefeed conveyor means relative to said support fraemwork in a series ofsuccessive steps whereby articles discharged thereby are stacked one onanother at said jaw loading station. i

9. In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases;

a stationary support framework;

an upright movable framework in the form of a multisided wheel rotatablymounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axistransverse to the wheel;

a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to themovable framework at the individual sides of the wheel, the paired jawsbeing extended outward from said axis along substantially radialprojections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws havingopposing inner transverse faces spaced from one another;

article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with saidmova'bleframework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting therotational path of movement of said paired jaws about said axis;

index means on said support framework operably connected to said movableframework for selectively locking the movable framework stationaryrelative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at saidjaw loading station;

case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectivelybringing an open case into registry with a second set of said pairedjaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means;

wherein said case delivery means comprises:

a conveyor having an upper surface along which upwardly open cases aremoved to said case loading station; c

a section of said conveyor located at said case loading station beingradially movable with respect to said axis;

and power means on said support framework operatively connected to saidsection for selectively moving said section radially inward toward saidaxis following reception of a case thereon and locking of said movableframework by said index means, the amount of such inward movement beingsuch as to result in the partial insertion of a set of said paired jawswithin the case.

1. In a case packer for articles requiring stacking, stack compressionand insertion of individual stacks into a receiving case: a movableframework rotationally mounted about a fixed horizontal axis on asupporting frame; paired jaws mounted to said movable framework inopposed positions extending outward from said axis in spacedsubstantially radial orientation with respect to said axis, the jawsbeing selectively movable with respect to the framework between a spreadposition and a closed position; first power means on said frameworkoperatively connected to said jaws for causing said jaws to assume theirspread position or alternately causing said jaws to assume their closedposition; jaw indexing means operatively connected to said movableframework for selectively locating said framework angularly about saidaxis for shifting said jaws between a jaw loading station and a caseloading station displaced from one another, the paired jaws beingdownwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when locatedat said case loading station; incoming conveyor means directed towardthe jaw loading station for selectively placing a plurality of articleswithin paired jaws located at said jaw loading station, the articlesbeing so placed in a stack with adjacent articles in side-by-sideabutment with one another; first control means operatively connected tosaid first power means for actuating said first power means so as tocause the jaws to assume their spread position during placement ofarticles therein by said incoming conveyor means; second control meansoperatively connected to said first power means for actuating said firstpower means so as to cause the jaws to assume their closed positionfollowing placement of a stack of articles therein; case conveyor meansfor directing open cases individually to the case loading station; andmeans for causing a stack of articles held between the jaws to bedischarged therefrom into a case at said case loading station followinglocation of said jaws at the loading station in response to operation ofsaid jaw indexing means.
 2. The apparatus as set out in claim 1 whereinthe axis is horizontal; the lowermost one of said paired jaws beingsubstantially horizontal when located at said jaw loading station. 3.The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said framework mounts aplurality of said paired jaws located equiangularly about said axis;said jaw indexing means being operable to successively locate adjacentpairs of said jaws at said jaw loading station and subsequentlysuccessively locate such pairs of said jaws at said case loading stationby causing the framework to be incrementally rotated about said axis. 4.The apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein the axis is horizontal; thelowermost one of said paired jaws being substantially horizontal whenlocated at said jaw loading station.
 5. An apparatus as set out in claim3 wherein each jaw of said paired jaws is pivotally connected at itsinner end to said framework about individual axes parallel to and spacedradially outward from said axis.
 6. An apparatus as set out in claim 3wherein each jaw of said paired jaws is pivotally connected at its innerend to said framework about individual axes parallel to and spacedradially outward from said axis; said first power means comprisingindividual powered mechanical devices mounted to the framework movablycontrolling the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws to orienteach jaw about its respective axis relative to said framework.
 7. In acase packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases: astationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the formof a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework abouta central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of setsof paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework atthe individual side of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outwardfrom said axis along substantially radial projections, the respectivejaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse facesspaced from one another; individually operable means on said movableframework for varying the spacing between the jaws of each of saidpaired jaws between a first condition wherein a stack of articles can bereceived between them and a second condition wherein a stack of articlestherebetween are compressed along the stack height to a reduced heightcapable of being inserted into a case; index means on said supportframework operatively connected to said movable framework for impartingincremental rotational motion to said movable framework about said axisto thereby shift said paired jaws between a jaw loading station and acase loading station angularly displaced from one another about saidaxis, the inner transverse faces of the paired jaws being downwardlyinclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said caseloading station; an infeed conveyor on said support framework having adelivery run directed to said jaw loading station on said movableframework; case positioning means on said support framework forindividually locating upwardly open cases beneath said movable frameworkdownwardly adjacent to said case loading station; and means for causinga stack of articles held between the paired jaws at said case loadingstation to be discharged from between the paired jaws.
 8. In a casepacker for placing stacks of articles within open cases; a stationarysupport framework; an upright movable framework in the form of amulti-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about acentral horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets ofpaired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at theindividual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outwardfrom said axis along substantially radial projections, the respectivejaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse facesspaceD from one another; article feed conveyor means longitudinallyaligned with said movable framework leading to a jaw loading stationintersecting the rotational path of movement of said paired jaws aboutsaid axis; index means on said support framework operably connected tosaid movable framework for selectively locking the movable frameworkstationary relative to said axis with one set of said paired jawslocated at said jaw loading station; case delivery means alongside saidmovable framework for selectively bringing an open case into registrywith a second set of said paired jaws while the movable framework islocked by said index means; and movable support means on said supportframework connected to said article feed conveyor means for shifting theposition of said article feed conveyor means relative to said supportfraemwork in a series of successive steps whereby articles dischargedthereby are stacked one on another at said jaw loading station.
 9. In acase packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; astationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the formof a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework abouta central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of setsof paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework atthe individual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extendedoutward from said axis along substantially radial projections, therespective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposing innertransverse faces spaced from one another; article feed conveyor meanslongitudinally aligned with said movable framework leading to a jawloading station intersecting the rotational path of movement of saidpaired jaws about said axis; index means on said support frameworkoperably connected to said movable framework for selectively locking themovable framework stationary relative to said axis with one set of saidpaired jaws located at said jaw loading station; case delivery meansalongside said movable framework for selectively bringing an open caseinto registry with a second set of said paired jaws while the movableframework is locked by said index means; wherein said case deliverymeans comprises: a conveyor having an upper surface along which upwardlyopen cases are moved to said case loading station; a section of saidconveyor located at said case loading station being radially movablewith respect to said axis; and power means on said support frameworkoperatively connected to said section for selectively moving saidsection radially inward toward said axis following reception of a casethereon and locking of said movable framework by said index means, theamount of such inward movement being such as to result in the partialinsertion of a set of said paired jaws within the case.